23/07/2026 09:33 - Internacionales
On July 22, 2026, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the appointment of Mykhailo Drapatyi (43) as the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, replacing Oleksandr Syrskyi (60). The decision aims to modernize defense strategy and continue military reforms, closing a week of internal political tensions.
The change in military leadership followed an unexpected cabinet reshuffle. The dismissal of popular Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov (35) on July 15, 2026 sparked public outrage and mass protests. Citizens demanded Fedorov's return and Syrskyi's removal, accusing the latter of clinging to a Soviet-style command. As a result, former SBU intelligence chief Yevhenii Khmara was appointed acting Defense Minister.
Mykhailo Drapatyi (born 1982) is a decorated Major General with 26 years of military service. He rose to prominence in 2014 during the Donbas war, leading an armored column to defend Mariupol. Known as a reformist, he advocates Western-style command and the use of drones to create a "kill zone" on the front line.
In June 2025, after a Russian attack killed 12 recruits at a training base, Drapatyi submitted his resignation on moral grounds, but Zelensky did not accept it. Now, his mission is to lead offensive operations, strengthen air defense, and address the recruitment crisis. General Ihor Skybiuk was appointed as the new Chief of the General Staff.
Outgoing commander Oleksandr Syrskyi, 60, leaves a controversial legacy. While credited with tactical successes such as the defense of Kyiv in 2022 and the Kursk incursion in 2024, his leadership was criticized for high casualties and Soviet-style micromanagement. In his farewell, Syrskyi claimed that under his command, 743 square kilometers of territory were recaptured in 2026 so far.
According to international media reports from DW, El País, and Infobae, this change represents a crucial generational shift for the Ukrainian army in its fight against the Russian invasion.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
